A commander of Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Afghanistan's Kunar province was killed along with his bodyguard in a drone strike on Thursday, officials said.

"Acting upon intelligence report, an unmanned plane attacked IS hideout in Manogai district this morning, killing the group's notorious commander Esmatullah and his bodyguard," government spokesman Ghani Musamim was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

The elimination of Esmatullah, involved in terrorist attacks in Manogai, Watapor and Chapa Dara districts, could prove a major setback to the IS group in Kunar and neighbouring Nuristan and Nangarhar provinces.

The IS group did not make any comment on Esmatullah's killing.

--IANS

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